Saturday, October 14, 2006

Nuclear Threat Cause for Increased Concerns in Jerusalem

Intelligence and security officials are monitoring Syrian activities closely as Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad continues to release mixed messages.Assad during recent days and weeks has broadcast contradictory messages, calling for peace talks with Israel and issuing threats of launching a military strike to “liberate” the Golan Heights from Israel.

The threats are apparently aimed at reasserting Syria's demand for all of the Golan Heights. Syria remains a staunch Hizbullah supporter, providing a weapons transfer route to terrorists in southern Lebanon.

Syria’s tenacious pro-Hizbullah position may result in Assad’s regime working towards arming Hizbullah with a nuclear device, Vice Premier Shimon Peres told Israel Radio Tuesday. He said that if Iran achieves nuclear independence, other nations in the region will be armed with nuclear technology as well.